In these times, we need to develop the art of discernment; that is, we need to decide what to reject and what to embrace as different scenarios are presented to us.

It’s time to carefully sculpt away what is no longer serving us, and with loving hands bring the kind of world we want into form.

We have so many tools, and so many helpers. With the internet, we’re connected to like minded people all over the world. We can share the best strategies and most effective actions. We can exchange lessons we’ve learned in our unique struggles, and adopt techniques that worked for others.

image courtesy of Pixabay

Our lives can become works of art, as we refine the ways we interact with the world around us. We can grow gardens, get involved with our communities and learn to live on very little.

Winter is a season for contemplation, and right now we need to listen carefully — to our thoughts, and to the insights of others.

Something I’ve heard bubbling up lately is the need for wellness, both for ourselves and for the organizations where we work. Work can be stressful these days, especially when we’re in the helping and activist sectors.

We’re passionate about what we do, often put in more hours than we should and struggle with burnout. Lately it’s dawning on a lot of us that this kind of behaviour is unsustainable. We need to figure out how we can feel supported and nourished at work. Having stable, engaged and relaxed employees leads to a solid organization that does great work.

Creating situations where we are at our best is living the change we want to see. We’re lovingly bringing forth the kind of lives we want.

Some friends and I have been spending a lot of time on the internet trying our best to understand how the world has gotten to where it is today.

The results of the US election didn’t come out of the blue. A lot of factors have contributed to the situation we see to the south of our Canadian border. Some of the contributing factors I see are:

the concentration of wealth into fewer hands

the interests of corporations taking priority over the interests of citizens

the rise in poverty and homelessness

the lack of political representation for people who are experiencing these hardships

the philosophy of privatization and austerity

movies and video games that glamourize violence

unreliable news sources

fear mongering in the media

endless wars

expansion of fossil fuel production

hate against others being promoted

These factors together contribute to a culture of frustration, fear and hopelessness. How do we cope with the increasing impoverishment of people, destruction of our environment and the continuous drip of misinformation? All this to enable a small number of people to make more money — how is this right?

When we notice these things as they appear in our lives, can we find alternatives? If there’s a news story promoting fear and hatred, maybe we can find a different news source that presents facts and solutions. Have you looked at some of the inspiring new technologies lately? Here’s a video that might make you feel better about the future.

Looking forward, I wonder how we can mitigate the policies that are impoverishing us and replace them with policies that are more equitable. How can we make housing and feeding people a priority? How can we take our tax dollars out of military spending? How can we demonstrate alternatives to austerity and privatization?

Looking back, I wonder how we allowed our governments to take these destructive paths. Were we too distracted? Were we led to believe that trade deals and neoliberalism were working despite the fact that people were becoming poorer? Was talking about politics taboo? Why didn’t more of us defend the public domain as it was slowly being dismantled and privatized? More importantly, how can we salvage what we still have?

I hope that we’ll learn from this pivotal point in history. Standing Rock has shown us what happens when people stand together in non-violence protecting water. More of us are discovering the power of our money and using it to divest and use it as a political tool. We’re also volunteering and taking action together more. I believe we’re also putting more effort into including people from different backgrounds and movements.

image courtesy of Pixabay

The future I envision has no more war, and is non-polluting and respectful. Everyone is fed and housed, and has access to a great education.

We deepen our understanding of people and the world around us and are enriched by what we learn. We live in harmony with each other and our ecosystems. We share our cultures and enjoy the food, viewpoints and teachings they offer.

Is that an unrealistic vision? Unfortunately, in the world as it is, people who want these things are viewed with suspicion. The thing is, many of us live this reality every day, because we’re lucky enough to live in a place where have that option, and consciously choose harmony and genuine progress over fear and hatred.

Isn’t this what we want for ourselves, each other and our families? Shouldn’t everyone have the opportunity to lead a fulfilling life? If we work together and support each other, I think we can achieve this.